Favorite African Cichlids?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Utaka is not something that I own - it's my understanding these classes of fish are exclusive zooplankton eaters not sure I could even name one species in this class maybe Copadichromis Borleyi ??????? once again not sure but I would luv to here and see more about them.

Getting back to PH ........... ya trying to make your tank perfect with commercial buffers in a bottle. This type of buffer dissolves w/ time creating the instability.Pretty much johnnny on the spot testing to maintain perfect paramters and highly unnessasary. An unstable ph will probably shock the fishes system way worse than any transfer - say breeders runnin' 8.5 you drop the fish in nuetral but stable africans can adapt and thrieve in 7.0. I've seen this first hand.
Hence - crushed corals - can slightly raise the ph of the aquarium with stability.I also believe theres another substrate called aragonite that will also slighty raise the ph but I've never used it.
Fortunately we are talkin' Rift lake cichlids not Discuss.
 
Not trying to have a debate on the OP's thread but it might as well be discussed here as it is info they should know.

I have been to several wholesale dealers and breeders and none of them used any sort of buffer in their water, and in fact cichlidexchange of Portland OR was the first to tell me they don't do it because it most definitely does create PH swings. This is coming from a massive mall of a wholesaler/breeder which has been around for ages and keeps WC and F0's stocked at all times.

It doesn't matter if you just have a substrate that buffers slowly like aragonite, causing gradual yet still unhealthy swings in ph or if you add a powder buffer, which creates what is often a large (and potentially deadly over time) spike in ph.

Just my $0.02 take it or leave it but I know my WC and F0 cichlids look fantastic at a ph of about 7.4....

As for the topic, if I had a 125 I would start off with some hardier fish that arent overly aggressive, red top zebras are a favorite that Ive not had any aggression issues with, yellow labs and acei cichlids following that.Then I would go on to add whatever peacocks you can get your hands on as well as maybe just a couple large haplichromis such as eye biter or malawi trout or ahli's.

If you go deep into the peacock route as everybody tends to do, be aware that the Jake line of peacocks are simply filled to the brim with Piss and Vinegar (They are nasty mean a good 85% of the time.)




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Thanks for ALL the excellent info you guys posted here! this forum is a great place for REAL experienced info!

I would rather be thought of as new to the hobby since Ive been away for 15 years and much has changed, prior to this I had tanks for 20 years (yes Im an old guy, 48) Soooo all the basic info is appreciated greatly as well as the more in depth.

I know everyone has different opinions but hearing everyone's helps!

Ive printed off this thread, my supplies from Big Al's and a few other places will all be here over the next three days. I will be setup over the next weekend and will start to cycle the tank, I will hit this thread with pictures and more questions if you guys dont mind helping out a "reborn newb"

I'm excited like a kid again :headbang2
Thanks!
 
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if you can find these guys there sexy in any tank. local pet store called em a christmas chiclid think there victorian not sure.
 
d. compressiceps...heres mine, his jaw is deformed, but he sure is pretty!

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